Grader for a road having a curb



April 7, 1964 L. HOPKINS 3,127,689

GRADER FOR A ROAD HAVING A CURB Fi led March 27, 1962 INVENTOR. LEONARD L.HOPK|NS BY Munch/z, half/" 1y ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,127,689 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 3,127,689 GRADER FOR A ROAD HAVING A CURB Leonard L. Hopkins, 1422 Moon Road, Vista, Calif. Filed Mar. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 182,873 2 Claims. (Cl. 37-156) The present invention relates to road graders and more particularly to a grader for grading a road having a curb.

In practice the present invention contemplates the use of a guide which is attached to the blade and which rides on the top surface of the curb and thus determines the depth of the road relative to the curb. In the preferred embodiment, this guide is in the form of a roller which rides on the curb.

Further, in practicing the present invention, another guide also is provided. This other guide is also attached to the blade and is arranged to engage that surface of the curb which confronts the road being graded.

In the preferred embodiment, a unitary structure is attached to the end of the blade and it includes both guides.

Also, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide, that rides on the top surface of the curb, namely the roller, is adjustable verticallyv Further features and the advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the unitary structure, forming the present invention and showing the same attached to the left end of a scraper blade; only a fragment of the blade is shown; the view also shows a lateral cross section of the road being graded.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the unitary structure, looking in the direction of arrow 2 of FIG. 1, but showing the roller in phantom by dot and dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view looking in the direction of arrows 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the element which is attached to the scraper blade, but showing the roller and the adjusting means therefor in phantom by dot and dash lines.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the road to be graded is shown at 20, the opposite sides of which are bounded by previously formed concrete curbs 22, the top surface of one is shown at 24. A standard type of blade used for scraping the road is shown at 26. This blade is usually disposed at an angle of between 45 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the curb, the blade extending rearwardly from the curb.

The unitary structure 28 of the present invention includes a frame 30. This frame includes a curve blade section or stub blade 32 which conforms with the curvature of the blade 26, and the rear thereof complements the front surface of the blade 26. The blade section 32 is provided with a plurality of slots 34. Special bolts 36 are welded to the front side of the blade 26 which are received by the slots 34, and the frame 30 is held in place by these bolts and nuts 38. Thus the structure 28 can be raised and lowered relative to the blade 26 so that the lower end 39 may be horizontally aligned with the lower end of the blade 26.

The left end of the frame 30 includes a vertical plate 31 having a vertically extending tubular section or post 40. This tubular section is preferably rectangular in horizontal cross section to form a vertically extending passage 41 for receiving the rectangularly shaped carriage 42. This carriage is provided with a vertically extending portion 44 and a portion 46 which is disposed at right angles and extends to the left at the lower end of the portion 42. This portion 46 merges into an axle 48 for a roller 50. This roller is held in place on the axle by a key 52. The upper end of portion 44 of the carriage 42 is provided with horizontally extending teeth 54 on the left side thereof. These teeth cooperate with teeth 56 on a block or key 58.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 5, it will be seen that this key 58 is generally C-shaped, when viewed from the top, and the teeth 56 project to the right from the rear surface 60 of the key. It will also be observed from FIG. 4 that the teeth 56 are disposed forwardly of the rear of the key. The upper end of the tubular section extends to the left, as at 62, to form a rectangular passage 64 which is in open communication with the vertically extending passage 41. This passage 64 extends through the extension 62 from the rear to the front and receives the key 58. Key 58 is slidable within the passage 64. When the key 53 is in the rearrnost position, the teeth 56 thereof mesh with the teeth 54 of the carriage 44, so as to hold the carriage 44 at a desired position with respect to the frame 30 and likewise the blade 26. The teeth 56 can be moved out of meshing relationship with the teeth 54 by pushing the key 58 forwardly. When the key 58 is in this forward position, the frame 30 can be raised or lowered with respect to the carriage 44. In this manner the height of the frame 30 and the blade 26 can be adjusted vertically with respect to the roller 50. Thus the relative depth of the road with respect to the top surface of the curb can be regulated.

The lower end of the vertical plate 31 is offset slightly as shown at 66, for receiving a plate 63 which is held in place by studs and nuts 72. The lower end 74 of this plate 68, lies in a horizontal plane is is flush with the lower end of the blade section 32 of the frame 30 and the lower end of the main blade 26. The left side 76 of this plate 68 should bear against that side 78 of the curb 22 which confronts the road which is being scraped. In this manner the plate 68 functions as a guide for the blade section 32 and the main blade 26, whereby scraping or grading takes place to the surface 78 of the curb. An indicator is provided which can be seen by the operator of the grader, whereby he can adjust the relative angle of the blade 26 and the main frame 30 with respect to the curb. The indicator is in the form of a bar 80. This bar 80 is pivotally mounted to the frame 30 as at 82. This bar, when in the position shown, lies in a vertical plane parallel to the plate 68. When not in use, it is moved upwardly. The operator, when the bar is in the position as shown, can observe this bar and through observing this bar, which should be parallel with the curb, he can adjust the angle of the blade 26 with respect to the curb.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a unitary structure which can be readily attached to the end of a grader blade having guides which provide for grading the road to a predetermined level with respect to the top surface of the curb. In this manner a road foundation can be established of desired depth with respect to the curb in order to prepare the road for the final surface filling.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and de- 3 4 scribed constitutes preferred form, it is to be understood and having its axis perpendicular to said scraper that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope guide plate, and of the claims that follow. (I) means for adjustably locking said L-shaped bracket I claim: in said post.

1. In combination with a road grader: 5 2. In combination with a road grader as in claim 1, said (a) a scraper blade, locking means including:

(b) means for angularly moving said scraper blade, (m) teeth on said L-shaped bracket,

(0) a scraper blade frame including an integral stub (n) a keyhole in said hollow post,

blade adjustably secured to said scraper balde for (0) a (J-shaped key in said keyhole having teeth proraising and lowering said stub blade with respect to jecting out from a forward portion of said key, said said scraper blade, teeth of said key meshing with the teeth of said (d) said frame including an integral vertical plate, L-shaped bracket when said key is moved in one (e) said stub blade being disposed diagonally with direction and disengaging with the teeth of said respect to said vertical plate, L-shaped bracket when said key is moved in the (i) said vertical plate being recessed at the bottom, other direction. 7

(g) a scraper guide plate set flush in said recess,

(h) said vertical plate including a vertically extending References Cited in the file of this patent hollow post integral therewith and extending above UNITED STATES PATENTS and beyond said vertical plate recess,

(i) an L-shaped bracket mounted for vertical adjust- 1849754 f i ment in said hollow post and having adjustment Z i 1 1 clearance with said scraper guide plate, 332: ig;

(1) as g f sald Shaped brawket mcludlng an 2,806,305 Ulrich Sept. 17, 1957 (k) a wheel member rotatably mounted on said axle 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROAD GRADER: (A) A SCRAPER BLADE, (B) MEANS FOR ANGULARLY MOVING SAID SCRAPER BLADE, (C) A SCRAPER BLADE FRAME INCLUDING AN INTEGRAL STUB BLADE ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID SCRAPER BLADE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID STUB BLADE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SCRAPER BLADE, (D) SAID FRAME INCLUDING AN INTEGRAL VERTICAL PLATE, (E) SAID STUB BLADE BEING DISPOSED DIAGONALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID VERTICAL PLATE, (F) SAID VERTICAL PLATE BEING RECESSED AT THE BOTTOM, (G) A SCRAPER GUIDE PLATE SET FLUSH IN SAID RECESS, (H) SAID VERTICAL PLATE INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING HOLLOW POST INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND EXTENDING ABOVE AND BEYOND SAID VERTICAL PLATE RECESS, (I) AN L-SHAPED BRACKET MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT IN SAID HOLLOW POST AND HAVING ADJUSTMENT CLEARANCE WITH SAID SCRAPER GUIDE PLATE, (J) THE BASE LEG OF SAID L-SHAPED BRACKET INCLUDING AN AXLE, (K) A WHEEL MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID AXLE AND HAVING ITS AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SCRAPER GUIDE PLATE, AND (L) MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY LOCKING SAID L-SHAPED BRACKET IN SAID POST. 